A recent poll of 2028 Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire, the nation’s first presidential primary state, shows former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leading California Governor Gavin Newsom by nearly 2-1.
of public opinion pollwas conducted by the Saint Anselm University Research Center between March 16 and March 18 among 1,491 registered voters in the Granite State, including 690 Democrats. Respondents were randomly selected and the data was weighted to reflect the state’s demographics and 2024 voting patterns.
Buttigieg leads all Democratic candidates with 29% support in the multi-candidate primary. Newsom follows with 15%, followed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with 10% and former Vice President Kamala Harris with 6%. 11% of voters are still undecided.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, making Buttigieg’s lead over Newsom statistically significant.
Among Republican voters, the poll shows J.D. Vance leading Secretary of State Marco Rubio 46% to 27%.
None of the candidates listed in the poll have officially announced their candidacy for the 2028 presidential election. Most decisions are expected to be made after the midterm elections in November.
Despite Buttigieg’s lead in New Hampshire, most national polls still show Harris as the favorite Democratic candidate, a position often attributed to her name recognition over lesser-known candidates.
Harris has also performed well among black voters, a key constituency for the Democratic Party, but Buttigieg has struggled to connect with black voters since his 2020 run.
A recent Center Square Voter Opinion poll showed Harris with a 31% approval rating nationwide, followed by Newsom with 16%, Buttigieg with 7% and Ocasio-Cortez with 6%. 18% remain undecided.
Harris leads Newsom by about 7 points in all polls compiled, and is supported by just over a quarter of Democratic voters. Buttigieg’s average is about 10%.
Other candidates voting between 3% and 8% include Ocasio-Cortez, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Cory Booker and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear.
said Grant Davis Reacher, a political science professor at Syracuse University. newsweek He said he was not surprised by the national polling trends.
“Harris hasn’t put herself out of the picture. It’s no surprise that she’s at the top, given that she’s a 2024 candidate and that many in the Democratic Party feel guilty about the outcome,” he said. “I still think she could be a disastrous pick for the party, but not the best bet to take back the White House in 2028.
“I’m not surprised that Newsom is in second place. He’s been actively campaigning for the seat, he’s the governor of California, and he’s been very prominent in his attacks on President Trump,” Reacher added. “I still don’t think he’s a particularly good candidate for the Democratic Party, but he’s better than Harris. As others come forward, the field will become more crowded and more competitive.”
Buttigieg is widely seen as one of the Biden administration’s most effective communicators, appearing frequently on cable news and podcasts, suggesting he may be preparing to run again in 2028.
In those appearances, he has been harshly critical of President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly its handling of the economy, the Iran war, and heavy-handed immigration enforcement tactics.
“Our economy is losing jobs, especially with rising gas prices. Yet the White House is prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires while starting a reckless new war in the Middle East,” Buttigieg said in an X post earlier this month. “If the American people make our voices heard, it doesn’t have to stay this way.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
